TWO ARRESTED IN EL CAJON AFTER FREEWAY CHASE AND COLLISION IN STOLEN CAR

Two people suspected of being in a stolen car were arrested Monday night shortly after a pursuit, collision and foot chase, El Cajon police said.

The driver was identified by police as Adriana Martinez, 24, and the passenger as Ernest Molina, 27.

The incident began about 5:45 p.m. when an officer stopped the vehicle on Wisconsin Avenue in El Cajon. Another officer arrived. The driver fled after being ordered out of the car, police Lt. Mark Coit said.

The driver took off onto state Route 125, into La Mesa, then back on the freeway toward El Cajon, Coit said. The pursuit was monitored by a sheriff’s helicopter.

The driver exited Route 125 at Navajo Road, and the car collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Medford Street.

The driver and passenger fled. A sheriff’s deputy who had assisted in the chase deployed a canine, Coit said.

The driver was bitten and taken into custody. The passenger was detained after a brief struggle.

No one was injured in the collision.

Susan Shroder • U-T

Four 7-Eleven armed robberies in East County may be linked

east county

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a string of 7-Eleven store robberies that may have been committed by the same armed robber, who wore a red mask.

One robbery was reported about 2:30 a.m. Monday at the store on Jamacha Road near East Lexington Avenue in El Cajon, said El Cajon police Lt. Steve Shakowski. The robber had a handgun and took cash.

About thirty minutes later, the store on East Bradley Avenue near Mollison Avenue in the Bostonia neighborhood was robbed, said sheriff’s Lt. Scott Amos. A third robbery was reported about 10 minutes later on Lake Jennings Park Road near Mapleview Street in Lakeside, Amos said. The robber fled in a dark, two-door vehicle.

About 1:30 a.m. Saturday, a 7-Eleven on Jamacha Road in Rancho San Diego was robbed, sheriff’s officials said.

Debbi Baker• U-T

Man who died after collapsing at border resided in L.A. County

san ysidro

A 51-year-old man who collapsed Saturday night after he was taken into custody at the San Ysidro border checkpoint and died has been identified as Alfonso Arias Lua of Los Angeles County.

Lua died at a Chula Vista hospital, the Medical Examiner’s Office said.

An autopsy has not been completed. The San Diego Police Department also is investigating the death.

Lua was one of three people in a 2004 Acura MDX that crossed the border at the San Ysidro Port of Entry about 6:30 p.m. Lua was a passenger.

The driver was a 45-year-old U.S. citizen, and the other passenger was a 63-year-old woman, Customs and Border Protection officials said in a statement.

Lua collapsed after he was taken to a secondary inspection area. It was not disclosed why he was taken into custody.

Dana Littlefield • U-T

Water service back in Point Loma more than a day after main burst

Point Loma

Water service was restored by noon Monday to residents and businesses who were without water for more than 24 hours, San Diego officials said.